Review by Debbie Gorrell, Common Sense Education | Updated September 2015

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The Land of Venn - Numeric Storms

Name: The Land of Venn - Numeric Storms
Item: The Land of Venn - Numeric Storms
Rating: 3
Author: Debbie Gorrell

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Zany game mixes fun and math for engaging fact fluency practice

Subjects & skills

Grades This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.

K–2

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Zany graphics and character voices instantly draw kids in.

On-screen instructions for each level help kids with gameplay.

In each world, kids connect numbers to make given sums.

Each of the three worlds includes 10 levels to unlock.

Kids have to unlock a world in order to move onto the next one.

Pros: The game is curiously addictive -- it's a great way for kids to have fun while practicing math facts.

Cons: Some numbers are difficult to connect in order to make sums.

Bottom Line: The quirky graphics and fast-paced action make this a fun resource for practicing basic addition facts.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

In the classroom, use The Land of Venn – Numeric Storms to reinforce addition facts through 30. Have kids complete a few levels in the first world to get a feel for the game. Discuss any challenges they had and review addition facts as needed. Have kids play throughout the school year, either for practice and reinforcement or for a reward if they finish their classwork early. The game accommodates multiple users, so kids can share devices and take turns if needed.

What Is It?

As in the developer's previous app, the Land of Venn is being invaded by the Evil Bookkenriders trying to drink the magic pools and destroy the land. To save the magic juice, kids must act fast to make given sums by pairing or grouping numbers. There are three worlds (fruits, sweets, and shipwrecked treasures), with 10 levels in each world. Before a level introduces a new sum, kids get to practice grouping numbers prior to actually playing. Kids have to complete a level to move on and must save one world to unlock the next one. They use their fingers to connect numbered Bookkenriders to make a sum. If kids don't move quickly enough, the Bookkenriders will make it to the magic pool and drink it up. If this happens, kids can try the level again. As they play, kids earn points, stars, and magic powers that they buy from the store with in-game currency.

Is It Good for Learning?

The quirky illustrations and character voices are delightful for both kids and adults. With 30 increasingly difficult levels that adapt based on performance, kids will be challenged as they work to earn three stars and unlock each world. Through gameplay, kids practice and build fluency with basic addition facts, which lays the foundation for more advanced mathematics in later years. The game's quirky narrator repeats the sum, helping to reinforce the math facts. Kids also learn to strategize by using magic potions and spells that they can purchase by building up points.

The game mechanics in the first Land of Venn app (Geometric Defense) were a perfect fit for the learning objectives; there, kids had to draw lines and shapes to zap the monsters, which paired the abstract geometry vocabulary (“triangle,” “open shape,” etc.) with concrete representations that kids drew themselves. Here, the same game mechanics are used for fact fluency practice, which, as a learning objective, isn’t about conceptual learning -- it’s about memorization. A valuable skill for moving on to more advanced math, for sure, but not one that is particularly deep. In addition, this time around, it’s sometimes a struggle to finger-draw a connection between the numbers with all of the other interactive graphics on the screen. Kids might get frustrated if they know their math facts but are unable to beat a level because of this.

Rating Details

Overall Rating

Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

The art and narration are delightfully silly, and the mission will keep kids playing.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Math fact fluency is a valuable skill, but not about conceptual understanding. The levels get increasingly more challenging, and gameplay adapts based on performance, which helps kids build skills as they advance.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Each new level includes text, audio instructions, and an opportunity to practice. Sometimes it's hard to finger-draw between numbers, which could frustrate some kids.

Common Sense Reviewer

Debbie Gorrell Educator

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Featured review by
Meghan Z. , Classroom teacher

Classroom teacher

Olsen Elementary School
Port Aransas, United States

Encourages Number Fluency & Problem Solving

I really like the problem solving aspects of this game. Students can try a number combination, and if it works they win. However, if it doesn't, students have more chances to make a successful number combination. At each level players earn coins that they can redeem for extras, like more water, which really help in allowing enough time to make successful combinations and beat levels. It's a great way for students to strategize and problem solve in addition to practicing number combinations.

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